What He Has Given

Living a holy life is not to be seen as living a restrained life.

Posted on

If we could stop and think about what our God has given us, we wouldn’t have enough ink on this paper to list and include it all.  Just “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”  (2 Peter 1: 3)  

It doesn’t stop there. Peter said, “Through these He has given us His great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”  (2 Peter 1: 4)  

Corruption He Has Not Given

Corruption is everywhere in our world.  So how do we escape it?  Participate in the divine nature of God and look to His Word, which are promises.  The Holy Spirit inside of us, indwelt, makes us able to participate with Him.  Our humanity and His deity are separate, but that deity resides in His Holy Spirit that’s inside of us.  As a believer, we house and hold Jesus Christ inside.  

Producing A Fruitful Life 

So how do we rise above all the evil and corruption?  “Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance, and to perseverance, Godliness, and to Godliness; brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love.”  (2 Peter 1: 5)  

Did you notice how each character listed built upon each other?  They are stacked up like a tall tower all pointing to the last one, the best one, love!  Oh, the power of His love.  

  • The power of His love created everything.

“If you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (2 Peter 1: 8)  

The keywords here are increasing measure.  Being ineffective and unproductive comes from not living the way we should.  Living in increasing measure is growing spiritually.  

If we live the way we should it does not set us free from moral restraints, rather it produces holiness and other virtues.  

  • Living a holy life is not to be seen as living a restrained life.
  • No need to keep striving, just yield. 
  • Position yourself the way we should.
  • We should know how.  

Above All

Allow the Morning Star, Jesus, to arise in your hearts.  He tells us that we must understand this:  “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”  (2 Peter 1: 20-21)  

  • Learn to yield to the Holy Spirit.
  • He has much to teach us.
  • We have much to learn.
  • His Word was given as men were active participants of receiving His words to write down.  
  • Our words come to God, as being carried along by the Holy Spirit.

(Shared from 2 Peter 1, Modified)

Where To Go And What We Should Do

As we follow Christ, He will reveal that. Jeremiah receives this request, petition from the army officers, who had just seen and heard about the assassination death of Gedaliah the governor, the one who was kind to Jeremiah.  

As the army seeks Jeremiah they ask, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant.  For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left.  Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”  (Jeremiah 42: 2-3)  We ask that question often too.  

  • God always will have a remnant.  

The people are most likely asking the Lord to confirm their flight to Egypt.  They see it as their only option.  

  • God often has another option, even if it seems risky.
  • He often directs us in the least popular route.  

Ten days later Jeremiah tells them not to return to Egypt.  He speaks, saying, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says, “If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you.”  (Jeremiah 42: 9-10)  

He says some other things and concludes by saying, “O remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, “Do not go to Egypt.”  So now, be sure of this:  “You will die by the sword, famine, and plague in the place where you want to settle.”  (Jeremiah 42: 19, 22)  

  • If you’re looking for direction and a place to settle, go to the place where God tells you to go, not to the place where you think you should go. 
  • Settle in this place–His place.  
  • Settle in the Secret Place to get direction where you are to settle.  

(Shared from Jeremiah 41-42, Modified) 

God Sees True Devotion

Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your presence?  If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.  If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”  (Psalm 139: 7-10)

  • Settle and stay the course.  

If you are feeling unsettled?  Meditate on this:  “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  (Psalm 139: 16)  

  • Let this truth settle deep within.  

In Times Of Uncertainty

Another truth to cling to, “He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he has settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him.”  (Psalm 112: 7)

Maybe when the Spirit came in power, He chose to first settle on and in the place where we need it most, our minds.    “What looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on their heads.”  (Acts 2: 3)   

  • Saints of the Living God, let Holy Spirit settle.  

He is the best thing we’ve been given, and will not be taken from us, as we follow Him.  

(Shared from Psalm 139, Modified)  

 

 

 


UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES

You can find all of the Unbroken Love series posts by clicking the button below.

VISIT SERIES PAGE

The views and opinions expressed by Kingdom Winds Collective Members, authors, and contributors are their own and do not represent the views of Kingdom Winds LLC.

About the Author

Mary Beth Pecora, a faithful wife, mother, grandmother, friend, worshiper and servant leader, who loves life and loves people. More importantly, she passionately loves God and the fullness of who He is! For twenty-three years she has served in leadership positions within the ministry of Aglow International. Currently, she and her husband serve at The Secret Place--A Psalm 91 Ministry. It's a place for individual folks to come, be exhorted and prayed for, while being ushered to ministry stations within the room. They continue to serve monthly in the Prayer Room at their home church that they have been a part of for almost forty years. In April of 2022 they both received their Ministry License and were Ordained in May of 2023. She delights in encouraging folks of all ages within various walks of life. Her love of writing is now her passion, which led her to publish two books, "Restoration Explosion In The New Year," and "Navigating The Mysteries Of God." Above all that’s been accomplished and concluded, the BEST thing to her is knowing her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is her everything—her very best friend. Visit: Mybelovedsvoice.com